# What should be Olympic sports but aren't? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155 "2006-02-12T21:06:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/41 "2006-02-14T01:57:14Z")
Siesta ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/42 "2006-02-14T03:19:39Z")
Summer Biathalon: Off-road bikeing and long bow shooting. Works a lot like the winter version. ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/43 "2006-02-14T04:31:54Z")
> [@Lewis Black](#): > > If curling is an Olympic sport, then oral sex is adultery. And oral sex should be an Olympic sport. I would like to see that. Ice skating, then blow jobs. I certainly would stay though whatever commericals they had. I think oral sex should be an Olympic sport because it’s harder than curling ever has been, and if you’re any good at it, you deserve a medal. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/44 "2006-02-14T08:54:11Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > If baseball doesn’t get in, cricket has no business being in. All the arguments about “baseball’s not big in most countries” boil down to “baseball’s not popular in Europe” and the reverse is absolutely true about cricket. The argument is “baseball’s not popular in a decent spread of countries across the world”, being concentrated on North America, plus Japan. At least cricket has representation in western countries on both sides of the globe, and plenty of third world nations in between. Not as good a representation as rugby sevens, though (I’m starting to feel evangelical about this one 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/45 "2006-02-14T09:29:33Z")
[Pankration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankration) Jousting. Longsword fighting. Anbo-Jitsu. Freestyle Parkour. Dueling pistols. \* (Maybe split it into “traditional” and “Western Style.”) Soccer…with a flaming ball. Women’s Capoeira. Gads, I wish I could find the commercial that reminded me of this one. Sabre rattling. All-terrain football. \*actually [was an event, in the past.](http://www.topendsports.com/events/discontinued/list.htm) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/46 "2006-02-14T09:42:09Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Soccer…with a flaming ball. Errrrr… [IOC - International Olympic Committee | Olympics.com](http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=FB) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/47 "2006-02-14T10:08:45Z")
So…are you saying I was getting the name wrong, or that they actually play with a ball that’s been set on fire? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/48 "2006-02-14T10:27:15Z")
Ahhh, I though ‘flaming’ was a mild expletive, not an adjective 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/49 "2006-02-14T10:35:19Z")
Dodgeball would be awesome, it has international “incident” written all over it! ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/50 "2006-02-14T10:46:32Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > If baseball doesn’t get in, cricket has no business being in. All the arguments about “baseball’s not big in most countries” boil down to “baseball’s not popular in Europe” and the reverse is absolutely true about cricket. No one in North America, save a few diehards and transplants, gives two shakes about cricket. > > That said, give Italy and the Netherlands 20 years and baseball will be bigger. Who gives a _fuck_ about what people in North America think. And for your information, dickhead, they dont play much cricket in Europe. They do however play it in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which gives it a potential audience in the _billions_, who do happen to give two shakes about cricket. And chess should be an olympic sport. And obstacle swimming (which once was, i believe) mm ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/51 "2006-02-14T11:12:01Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > And chess should be an olympic sport. Chess is a purely mental activity, not a sport. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/52 "2006-02-14T11:42:38Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > Chess is a purely mental activity, not a sport. It depends on your definitions. If sport involves a physical component, then chess isn’t one. However there is ‘sport of the mind’, which is (I believe) ‘Denksport’ in German. Chess is certainly a competitive, balanced, skilful contest. Incidentally I fail to understand how ‘synchronised swimming’ counts as a sport (and even more so ‘solo synchronised swimming’!). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/53 "2006-02-14T12:38:22Z")
Drinking Chess. ( That way fans can play at home.) Dodgeball for summer. Snowball fights for winter. How about for making the pool more interesting, a rousing game of Marco Polo while syncronized swimming is going on? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/54 "2006-02-14T12:40:35Z")
If they do skate luge, then they have to give into skate skeleton. (Cause it would be Darwin in Action.) those people are nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/55 "2006-02-14T13:54:23Z")
Timed sandcastle/snowfort building. Bungee. [Irish Mail.](http://www.mth.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle/irishmail.html) [Flugtag.](http://phoenix.about.com/b/a/234391.htm) Hot dog eating. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/56 "2006-02-14T14:01:01Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > Who gives a _fuck_ about what people in North America think. And for your information, dickhead, they dont play much cricket in Europe. Do NOT insult other posters in Cafe Society. If you’re that incensed, start a thread in the Pit. This is a warning, don’t do this again, **mamboman**. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckForbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ChuckForbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChuckForbin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/57 "2006-02-14T15:14:42Z")
I’d like to see Karate, or martial arts in general. I realize there are many different styles so I guess it would be hard to judge people between styles. I suppose if they stuck to sparring and ignored katas and weapons, they could end up with something like UFC. But when I see judging of things like gymnastic floor routines and figure skating, i wonder if martial arts could be handled similarly. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/58 "2006-02-14T15:40:45Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > Who gives a _fuck_ about what people in North America think. And for your information, dickhead, they dont play much cricket in Europe. Such nice language for the Cafe Society! Did you forget what forum you were in? I’d like to see a multiple-stage (say, 5 or 6 stages) bicycling road race. I also agree with not adding any more judged events. There are plenty enough to wreak havoc every year as it is. Dog-sleds would be interesting. If they have equestrian events in the summer, what no dog-sleds in the winter? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/59 "2006-02-14T18:28:50Z")
The language itself isn’t the issue. You can call some sports figure a dickhead; but you can’t insult other posters. For clarification, see [_ **Forum Rules: PLEASE READ** _](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343601), and note post #3. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155/60 "2006-02-14T18:47:19Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Bocce > > Lawn Darts > > Chess > > Scrabble > > “Guess My Weight” > > Poker > > Ninja Decathalon “Pull My Finger” I still think tilting should be an event. Not sure how Mideastern nations would feel about it, but fuck 'em if they can’t take a joke. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-olympic-sports-but-arent/344155.md?page=4)